Delhi air improves from severe plus to very poor, relapse likely from Nov 20
The air pollution in Delhi on Saturday improved significantly from the “severe plus” to “very poor” category, with overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 360. However, the relief is short-lived as the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) has forcasted that air quality may deteriorate again from November 20 due to western disturbance.
SAFAR said, “Strong surface winds are flushing out the accumulated pollutants. No drizzling last night greatly helped air quality to recover.”
The high surface winds in Delhi will continue for the next two days (till Nov 19) to consistently improve the air quality, the forecaster added.
Local factors — temperature and surface winds — play vital roles in dispersion process of suspended particulate matters (SPMs).
On Friday value of AQI on was above 500, which falls under severe plus category.
The share of stubble burning in Delhi’s pollution on Sunday is predicted to be under 2 per cent, SAFAR said.
While overall AQI improved but a few places in Delhi - Dwarka Sector 8, Anand Vihar, Mundka - recorded values of primary pollutant Particulate Matter (PM) 10 very high - 438, 336, 338 respectively.
However, areas like Mandir Marg, Karni Stadium, Punjabi Bagh recorded AQI better with PM 10 values between 100- 200 µg/m3.
“The AQI is likely to enter the poor category on Monday. However, pollution is likely to increase November 20 onwards as another western disturbance will result in a dip in wind speed,” SAFAR said further.
According to Real Time Ambient Air Quality database of US embassy, New Delhi, at Shaheed Sukhdev Singh College, Rohini, AQI was 151, Wazirpur -272, Vasundra, Ghaziabad -280, Sector 62 -161, Sanjay Nagar -171, Sriniwaspuri -200 and Narela AQI was recorded 206.
US embassy marked 10 places of Delhi under unhealthy category while two places marked as hazardous zone - Wazirpur and Ghaziabad.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal may announce AAP decision on extending car rationing Odd-Even Scheme to tackle air pollution problem.
